The debate has already begun in Gainesville: which Great American Restaurants brand will open when the company launches its first Prince William County location in 2027?
On a recent episode of the Potomac Local Podcast, host Uriah Kiser and Del. Ian Lovejoy discussed the long-awaited announcement, reacting to news first reported by the Prince William Times. Great American Restaurants — the regional dining group behind Sweetwater Tavern, Mike’s American, Coastal Flats, and other popular Northern Virginia concepts — plans to open a new restaurant at 14100 Whitney Road.
The project has generated immediate excitement, with residents and podcast guests debating whether Sweetwater, Coastal Flats, or another GAR brand will land in Gainesville. Lovejoy called any option “a win” for the community, praising the chain’s consistency and describing its Aussie Rolls as a unifying crowd favorite.
A long-vacant property gets new life
The restaurant will replace a former Virginia Department of Transportation building near the Linton Hall Road and Route 29 interchange. The building once served as the headquarters for VDOT’s construction of the area’s single-point urban interchange more than a decade ago.
Since that project finished, the structure has remained empty. Lovejoy described it as the kind of building teenagers dare each other to explore at night — a local eyesore ready to come down. Plans call for demolishing the building and constructing a 15,000- to 16,000-square-foot restaurant with an outdoor patio.
Community reaction: excitement — and nostalgia
Much of the podcast discussion centered around local enthusiasm for the chain’s arrival. Great American Restaurants has a devoted Northern Virginia following, and many residents have long hoped the company would expand west beyond Fairfax County.
The conversation also touched on the chain’s reputation for high service standards and its emphasis on quality dining experiences. Lovejoy shared stories about events catered by GAR and the strong regional loyalty the brand commands.
Silver Diner also expanding nearby
Gainesville’s restaurant scene has been particularly active in recent weeks. As noted in additional reporting by the Prince William Times, Silver Diner plans to replace Out of the Blue, located across the street from the future Great American Restaurants site.
Silver Diner, once known as a Potomac Mills greasy spoon, has evolved into a modern diner concept offering healthier and more expensive fare. Lovejoy recalled a memorable “drunken ribeye” special he once ordered there — a dish he says he has chased ever since.
A growing dining district on Linton Hall Road
The area around Atlas Walk and Linton Hall Road continues to develop into a major restaurant corridor. Local favorites like Trummer’s Coffee & Wine Bar and Chateau Bakery now sit alongside larger chains such as Firebirds and Uncle Julio’s, contributing to a mix of regional and national brands.
Lovejoy noted that empty storefronts in the area rarely stay vacant long, and the addition of Great American Restaurants is expected to strengthen the corridor’s growing identity as a dining destination.
Even the McRib made it into the debate
The podcast discussion ended on a lighter note, with both guests observing that McDonald’s much-publicized McRib has yet to reappear on Northern Virginia menus this year — though it was spotted in Williamsburg. Lovejoy joked that the mystery “may say something about Northern Virginia tastes.”
